Columbia University has issued a series of disciplinary actions against students who occupied a campus building last spring as part of pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Punishments range from multi-year suspensions and temporary degree revocations to outright expulsions, according to a statement released by the university.
The disciplinary measures follow the Trump administration’s recent decision to revoke $400 million in federal grants and contracts, citing concerns over the university’s handling of antisemitism on campus. Interim President Katrina Armstrong acknowledged the administration’s concerns and stated that Columbia is working with federal officials to address them.
The protests, which escalated into the occupation of Hamilton Hall, were part of a broader movement demanding that Columbia divest from Israeli interests and urging the U.S. government to halt military assistance to Israel. Counter-protests and accusations of antisemitism, Islamophobia, and racism have fueled tensions on campus.
The university has not disclosed the number of students disciplined, citing privacy laws, but the United Auto Workers Local 2710, the union representing Columbia’s student workers, confirmed that its president, Grant Miner, was among those expelled—just a day before contract negotiations with the university were set to begin. The union called the decision an attack on First Amendment rights. Columbia declined to comment on the union’s claims.
The Trump administration has signaled a broader crackdown on what it calls “pro-Hamas” activism. Over the weekend, federal immigration authorities detained Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil, a key organizer in last year’s protests, with officials seeking his deportation. A federal judge has temporarily blocked his removal, but the administration has indicated more arrests could follow.
The disciplinary actions at Columbia highlight the intensifying battle over campus protests, free speech, and federal intervention in university affairs.
